Police issued a safety alert for Dearborn Park residents after a woman said she was violently attacked and robbed overnight in her garage.

A man with a gun approached the woman as she was getting out of her car around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 1400 block of South Clark Street, police said. He forced her back into her car and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The man then stole her keys, went to her home and robbed her husband at gunpoint.

"This is a good family, a very, very good family. They are anchors of this neighborhood," said Kim Clark, a neighbor who has lived in the area for more than 20 years.

Residents told NBC Chicago they've been asking for more security in the neighborhood for some time.

"We're a block and a half from the district police station. We should not have to beg for police security," said Clark.

Chicago's Guardian Angels were out Thursday evening warning residents of the attack.

"It's very important that people stay alert in the area," said Angel Thomas Hunt. "Someone can easily be sitting in the dark, sitting in the corner, standing and lurking and watching you, and you may not even be aware that someone's watching you, and the next thing you know you're a victim."

In a Thursday evening statement, police described the attacker as a black man between the ages of 30 and 33 years. He stood about 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed between 165 and 185 pounds. He had black hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion and was wearing a black and red trim ski cap and a dark-colored sweater.